macarthur



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Mar. 8,1898.

J. S. MAGARTHUR & J. YATES. APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTING GOLD AND SILVER FROM ORES, &c.

WHIN ANA mm 1 fl It (No Model.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S. MAGARTHUR & J. YATES. APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING GOLD AND SILVER PROM 033s, &c.

No. 600,266. Patented Mar. 8,1898.

=i ll A OOO OOD O00 OOO V El (No Model.) 3 Sheets-8heet 3.

J. S. MAGARTHUR & J. YATES. APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTING GOLD AND SILVER PROM ORES, &c.

No. 600,266. Patented Mar. 8,1898.

NlTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN STElVART MAOARTHUR, OF POLLOKSHIELDS, AND JOHN YATES, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE GOLD AND SILVER EXTRAG TION COMPANY OF AMERICA, LIMITED, OF GLASGOIV, SCOTLAND.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING GOLD AND SILVER FROM ORES, dc.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,266, dated March 8, 1898.

Application filed August 27,1895. Serial No. 560,675. (110 model.) Patented in England April 2, 1895, No. 6,802; in Western Australia May 1,1895,No. 798; in South African Republic June 5,1895,No. 881; in Victoria June 12,1895, No. 12,265; in New South Wales June 17, 1895,1To. 5,855; in Tasmania June 18, 1895,110. 1,449; in New Zealand June 20,1895, No. 7,691; in Cape Colony September 11,1895,N0. 1,076; in Natal September 11, 1895, No. 60; in Zululand September 18,1895, No. 16; in Mozambique October 24, 1895,110. 15; in India November 22, 1895, No. 282; in Orange Free State December 20, 1895, No. 61; in South Australia January 2, 1896,150. 3,126; in Mexico April 21, 1896, N0. 846, and in Canada April 27,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN STEWART MAC- ARTHUR, residing at Pollokshields, in the county of Renfrew, and JOHN YATES, residing at Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, Scotland, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Extracting Gold and Silverfrom Ores and the Like, (for which we have obtained patents in Great Britain,No. 6,802, dated April 2, 1895; in WVestern Australia, No. 798, dated May 1, 1895; in New Zealand, No. 7,691, dated June 20, 1895; in Victoria, No. 12,265, dated June 12, 1895; in Tasmania, No. 1,449, dated June 18, 1895; in New South Tales, No. 5,855, dated June 17, 1895; in South Australia, No. 3,126, dated January 2, 1896; in the South African Republic, No. 881, dated June 5, 1895; in Mexico, No. 8&6, dated April21, 1896; in Canada, No. 52,108, dated April 27, 1896; in Cape Colony, No. 1,076, dated September 11, 1895; in Natal, No. 60/],895, dated September 11, 1895; in Zululand, No. 16, dated September 18, 1895; in the Orange Free State, No. 61, dated December 20, 1895; in India, No. 282 of 1895, dated November 22, 1895, and in M0- zambique, No. 15, dated October 2 1, 1895,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the obtaining of gold and silver from their ores or like compounds.

In carrying out the invention the ores or like compounds in a powdered state are treated as hereinafter described in a vessel made of wood or of any other suitable material lined or covered, if necessary, with wood or some other suitable inert substance. The Vessel, which may be shaped like a barrel or cylinder and set horizontally with a shaft or other convenient support for a plate-carrying frame passing through it, is fitted internally with one or more amalgamated plates so disposed as to be readily accessible for removal, replacement, and renewal, WVhen a barrelshaped vessel is used, it may be fixed to the shaft which passes through it, so that by the revolution of the shaft the barrel is rotated, and the frame carrying the amalgamated plates is so arranged and adjusted that it may either remain stationary while the barrel rotates or it may rotate with the barrel 01' be merely hung on the shaft in such manner as to be freely movable without necessarily revolving with the barrel and its contents. In any case it is essential that there should be easy access to the amalgamated plate or plates by means of suitable openings, which may also serve for charging and discharging the apparatus.

In carrying out the invention the apparatus is charged with the powdered ore and a sufficiency of water containing some cyanid, such as cyanid of potassium, dissolved therein, or water containing any substance which will dissolve precious metal, either gold or sil- Ver or both gold and silver, or will assist amalgamation, but which will not materially affect the apparatus. The charge is then stirred or agitated by putting the apparatus into operation until the precious metal, as far as practicable, is caught on the amalgamated plate or plates, when the exhausted mass is discharged and the amalgam is collected from the plates and precious metal recovered there from.

The mass from which the precious metal has been collected by amalgamation, as far as practicable, is discharged into a tank or other vessel so arranged that if the solution contains precious metal, such solution may be drawn therefrom and if necessary any liquid remaining entangled therein may be washed out and the precious metal then recovered from the solution by any well-known means.

The acompanying drawings illustrate a form of apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of such apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan view of same, onehalf being a plan View of the under side thereof and the other half 32131311 View of the top side thereof Fig. 3, a transverse section through such apparatus; Fig. 4, an end view of the form of amalgamated plate which we prefer to employ, and Fig. 5 a side elevation of such plate.

It will be seen that the amalgamated plates A, Figs. 4 and 5, which we prefer to em ploy are corrugated or otherwise indented, as such form will give increased rigidity to the plates, whileprovidin g a much larger and more effective surface, as the corrugations or indentations will have a shielding or guarding action to protect the metals caught on the plate or plates, and thus form a surface which is favorable to the retention of the fine metal after initial contact.

Theapparatus shown in the drawings consists of a barrel. or drum B, secured to ahorizontal shaft 0 and provided with suitable openings 1) b b for the purpose of chargingand discharging the apparatus and also for introducing and withdrawing the amalgamated plates A, such openings being fitted with suitable covers for the purpose of closing same securely when the apparatus. is. in operation.

Upon the horizontal shaft or support G a frame D is mounted v in such a manner that it is free to rotate-on the said shaft, the extent of this freedom being capable of adjustment,

and into this frame the amalgamated plates A 1 are inserted and secured firmly therein, The freedom of the frame D to rotate in relation able means, such as by clamping such frame more or less tightly to the shaft or by pressure-screws passing through the frame and bearing on the shaft. The object of thus mounting frame D on the shaft'G is topermit of both plates being easily got at for renewal, &c., and to enable it to offer sucha resisting yielding action. to the materials tobe treated as is. found best suited to force such mate-' rials into most efficient contact with the plates A, while abrasion and strain on the same ore is introduced into the barrel or drum B;

together with the water containingsome cyanid dissolved therein. The cyanid solution serves to keep the mercury bright, which.enablesit to catch the coarse gold effectively,

I by zinc. ;ore and the solution are introduced are then securely closed. then caused to rotate, whereby such ore and 1 and precious metals and also acts as a solvent of the fine gold or gold which is inaccessible to mercury, and such gold as becomes dissolved in the solvent can be subsequently recovered therefrom by any known means, such as by precipitation The openings through which the The barrel or drum B is the solution will be brought into intimate con- It will be seen that as the barrel or latter will as same rotates be kept in constant 2 agitation, and the action of depositing the gold and silver on the amalgamated plates A will consequently be greatly facilitated.

When the operation has been completed, the exhausted mass will be discharged through the openings 1), b, or b and. the amalgam collected from the plates A, easy access to which is given by the swinging frame and apertures recover therefrom. Should any precious metals still remain in the 'mass discharged from the drum or barrel B, any known means may be employed for recovering same therefrom.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Pat- 'ent, isto the shaft 0 can be adjusted by any suitrotaryvessel adapted to contain a chemical 1. In an am algamator, the combination of a solution and powdered ore, and a frame hung in said vessel and carrying an amalgamating plate or plates, said frame being adapted to yield or move in said solution under the action thereof,

2-. In an amalgamator, the combination of a rotary vessel adapted to contain a chemical solution and powdered ore, a shaft extending into said vessel, and a frame mounted on said shaft andmovable independently thereof, and an amalgamating plate or plates supported in said frame and adapted to yieldwith the movement of said frame under the action of said solution.

CHAS. A. ALLIsoN, HARRY A. MOLELLAN. 

